Engineering graphene oxide membranes to achieve high fidelity speakers with low dimensional materials

在这个项目中，我们将设计氧化石墨烯膜，用低维材料实现高保真扬声器。我们的团队包括麦吉尔大学材料、电气和机械工程专业的三位教授，以及位于加拿大蒙特利尔的工业合作伙伴ORA Sound，该公司是基于石墨烯的扬声器声学组件的全球领导者。石墨烯是一种由碳原子组成的单原子层，超轻、超硬，但不适合直接集成到消费音频产品中。化学处理的石墨烯，被称为氧化石墨烯，可以很容易地用水基化学处理并干燥成超轻和超硬的薄膜。在声学应用中，氧化石墨烯膜优于常用的聚酯膜，能够以更低的功耗提高声音保真度。尽管如此，进一步改善其性能的挑战仍然存在。在这个合作项目中，我们将运用最先进的研究基础设施和专业知识：1)增加氧化石墨烯膜的刚度，以提高声音保真度；2)降低氧化石墨烯膜的密度，以提高能源效率；3)减少制造氧化石墨烯膜所需的时间，以降低成本；4)提高氧化石墨烯膜的环境稳定性，用于需要长工作寿命的应用。5)提高氧化石墨烯膜携带热量的能力，以减少因过热而失效的可能性（这是便携式电子设备中扬声器故障的最常见原因）。我们的团队将解决上述挑战，符合NSERC在先进制造业研究的战略愿景，特别强调将石墨烯基材料从研究实验室带入工业的重要性。我们还将培养下一代高素质人才，让他们了解前沿的石墨烯科学，以及将新材料整合到消费产品中的挑战。ORA sound将直接受益于这个项目的成功完成，加强加拿大在石墨烯材料新技术应用方面的全球领导地位。******

In this project, we will be engineering graphene oxide membranes to achieve high fidelity speakers with low dimensional materials. Our team involves three McGill professors in Materials, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, with industrial partner ORA Sound based in Montreal, Canada, global leader in graphene-based acoustic components for loudspeakers. Graphene is a single atomic layer of carbon atoms that is ultra-light and ultra-stiff, but unsuitable for direct integration into consumer audio products. Chemically processed graphene, known as graphene oxide, can be easily processed with water based chemistry and dried out into ultra-light and ultra-stiff films. Graphene oxide membranes are superior to commonly used mylar membranes for acoustic applications, enabling improved sound fidelity with lower electrical power consumption. Nonetheless, challenges remain to further improve their properties. In this partnership project, we will apply state-of-the-art research infrastructure and expertise to: 1) increase the stiffness of the graphene oxide membranes to improve sound fidelity, 2) reduce the density of the graphene oxide membranes to improve energy efficiency, 3) reduce the time required to manufacture graphene oxide membranes to decrease costs, 4) increase environmental stability of the membranes for applications that demand long working life, and 5) improve the ability of the graphene oxide membranes to carry heat to reduce the likelihood of failure by overheating (the most common origin of loudspeaker failure in portable electronic devices). Our team will tackle the challenges mentioned above, fitting within NSERC's strategic vision for research in the advanced manufacturing sector, which specifically highlights the importance of bringing graphene-based materials from the research lab into industry. We will also train the next generation of highly qualified personnel to understand both cutting edge graphene science and challenges associated with integrating a new material into a consumer product. ORA sound will directly benefit from the successful completion of this project, strengthening Canada's global leadership position in the application of graphene materials in new technologies.******